I love my ebike! It’s been a game changer for me. I can give you a few safety pointers that apply to cycling in general.

• invest in a rear-view mirror so that you can watch for people coming up from behind and cutting you off with a sudden right turn (the right hook, as it is sometimes called)
• at intersections, try to make eye contact with anyone turning across you
• get front and rear lights (most jurisdictions require these for night time riding but they are good to have on in daytime also)
• get a bell (again, generally required) and use it when you are approaching pedestrians who can’t see you or in general when your sight lines are obstructed
• watch out for parked car doors swinging out (if you need to take over a lane to pass a car safely, it is your right to do so)
• when you need to maneuver (e.g. change lanes, turn, etc.), use hand signals and do so gradually from a good distance

The nice thing about an ebike is it doesn’t cost you a lot of effort to get going again after slowing down or stopping, so you should do so if you’re facing an uncertain traffic situation.

Also, regarding risks, you need to weigh them against the risks of not riding. In my case, I work a sedentary job and this is my primary means of exercise. (Yes, even ebikes can give you exercise!) I was developing type 2 diabetes, but since I started the bike commute, I’ve been losing weight (albeit very gradually) and my numbers have been going down.